Grade-indicator



J. GAGE.

GRADE mmcmon. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1919.

1,336,694. Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

JAY GAGE, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

eRAnE-iNDIcATon.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application filed May 28, 1919. Serial No. 300,451.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAY GAGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Grade-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

My object is to make a grade indicator for motor vehicles, and my invention consists of the novel features herein shown, described and claimed.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a motor vehicle showing a grade indicator embodying the principles of my invention in use.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation ofthe instrument board and showing the grade indicator in perspective, the view being taken looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 2 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a vertical central section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4.is a diagrammatic view of the operating mechanism.

The attaching plate 1 is secured against the front face of the instrument board 2 by screws 3. The vertical ear 4 extends forwardly from the attaching plate 1 and has a horizontal opening crosswise of the vehicle. The attaching plate 5 has a similar ear 6, and the two ears are clamped together by a screw 7. The grade indicator case 8 is secured to the attaching plate 5 by rivets 9.

The case 8 is circular in front elevation and comprises a fiat circular web 10 and the annular wall 11 extending forwardly from the web 10. The cap flange 12 is screwed upon the forward end of the annular wall 11. The upper semicircular web 13 is formed integral with the upper half of the flange 12, and the lower semicircular web 14 is formed integral with the lower half of the flange 12, said webs 13 and 14 being offset relative to each other. The front face of the web 13 has graduations 15 and 16, the graduations 15 reading to the left from the verticalcenter 17, and the graduations 16 reading to the right. A frame 18 is mounted against the inner face of the web 14, a needle shaft 19 is mounted in the frame,.and the needle 20 is fixed upon the shaft 19 and extends upwardly in front of the web- 13 and points to the graduations 15 and 16.

When the vehicle is on a level the needle 20 stands at the point 17, and when the vehicle is going down hill the needle 20 moves to the left and the grade may be read upon the graduations 15, and when the vehicle is going up hill'the needle 20 moves to the right and the grade may be read upon the graduations 16.

A supporting bar 21 is secured to the web 13 by a rivet 22 and extends backwardly just below the top of the annular wall 11. A weight 23 is formed integral with the arm 24 and the arm 24 is pivotally connected at its upper end to the rear end of the bar 21 by apivot pin 25. A crank arm 26 extends forwardly from the upper end of the arm 24 and a link 27 connects the crank arm 26 to a crank arm 28 fixed upon the shaft 19. The crank arm 28 extends from the shaft 19 at right angles to the needle 20, so that as the weight 23 swings the needle 20 is moved. The weight 23 is mounted to swing forwardly or backwardly as the vehicle goes up hill or down hill and the movement of the weight moves the needle 20 relative to the graduations 15 and 16.

A bearing 29 is fixed in the case 8 at the rear end of the annular wall 11, and a similar bearing 30 is fixed at the forward end of the wall. Bell crank levers 31 and 32 are connected, to the bearings 30 and 29 by pivots 33 and 34, so that the lower arms 35 and 36 of the bell crank levers overlap each other and normally rest upon the upper inner face of the annular wall 11 just below the weight 23, and the upper faces 37 and 38 of these arms are corrugated. The vertical arms 39 and 40 of the bell crank levers 31 and 32 extend upwardly in the chamber 41 and have weights 42 and 43 at their upper ends; The arms 39 and 40 are slightly inclined toward each other so as to press the arms 35 and 36 downwardly to their normal positions. A brake flange 44 is fixed to extend downwardly crosswise of the weight 23 to engage .the corrugations 37 and 38.

When the vehicle is tilting forwardly and backwardly as when going over a rough road the weights 42 and 43 will raise the corrugated arms 35 and 36 to engage the brake flange 44 and hold the weight 23 from vibrating, thereby holding the needle 20' comparatively steady.

In order to further retard the vibration caused by rough roads the chamber 41 is filled with a heavy liquid such as oil. or

glycerin approximately to the line 45. The brake flange 44 is especially adapted to be retarded by the liquid because the flange moves fiatwise against the liquid.

Various changes may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed.

13 claim:

1. A grade indicator for vehicles comprising a graduated dial mounted transversely of the vehicle, a needle pivotally mounted to move across in front of the dial, a Weight pivotally mounted to move longitudinally of the vehicle having an arm extending from its pivoted end, a link connecting the arm of the Weight with the needle so that the needle will move to one side of the dial when the vehicle is inclined up hill and to the other side of the dial When the 7 vehicle is inclined down hill and a gravity of the vehicle, a connection between the.

weight and the needle whereby the needle will move one way when the vehicle is going up hill and whereby the needle will move the other way when the vehicle is going down hill, and, gravity operated brake mechanism for holding the Weight from vibrating when the vehicle is passing over rough ground.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JAY GAGE. 

